Any Ideas - Single Coil Buzz/Interference

[Linty7]

Hi Everyone…….

Does anyone have any ideas on the best ways of getting rid of or reducing “buzz/interference”, not hum. I’ve got a VT30 which I am very happy with but I do get buzz/interference which is a bit irritating. I don’t think this is so much an amp problem but more an external force. I own four electric guitars, all Strat type variations:

Cort G260 Super Strat with Duncan Designed Pickups, Coil tap on the Humbucker bridge position.

Cort G250p Super Strat with Mighty Mite pickups and a Fishman Bridge, Coil tap on the Humbucker bridge position.

Cort X-11(like an Ibanez Steve Vai type guitar) with Passive EMG’s (Two Humbuckers and a Single Coil in the centre position) Coil tap on the Humbuckers which changes them to Single Coils.

Fender Stratocaster MIJ Hank Marvin Signature with Fender Vintage Pickups.

All my guitars are copper lined and fully screened.

I get the buzz on all four guitars in position 1,3 & 5, position 1/neck being generally my favourite. The buzz/interference stops when the noise gate cuts in but it is still there when playing, as you may expect. I know I don’t have noiseless pickups, so I would expect some noise. However, when I’m standing about 6 feet away from the amp, if I am pointing the guitar at the amp the buzz/interference is there, if I move my position the noise goes (no buzz/interference at all, totally quiet). This also applies all around my room, stand in one position, no noise, move my position, noise! So this leads me to think that there must be some way of getting rid of it all together.

My main guitar lead is a 15’ Fender one and I also have another much shorter lead of decent quality, it makes no difference which one I use, I still have the same effect.

Does anyone have any ideas of how I could get rid of this buzz/interference ? Would something like an Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger help or maybe an Elixir or Mogami
guitar cable ?

[Voxman]

Would something like an Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger help

Yup - that's what I suggest you try.

[Linty7]

Thank you Voxman... I'll give it a go

[forexrobot]

First, you must understand that this is simply interference or induced noise. Induced noise can sound like clicking, popping, whirring, buzzing, whistling, or whining. This noise always has a source such as the alternator, car power wiring, amplifier, etc. So this means that the problem can be tackled at the source. Now, you just have to find it.

[Linty7]

First, you must understand that this is simply interference or induced noise. Induced noise can sound like clicking, popping, whirring, buzzing, whistling, or whining. This noise always has a source such as the alternator, car power wiring, amplifier, etc. So this means that the problem can be tackled at the source. Now, you just have to find it.

Thank you very much for your reply forexrobot.

Yes, that is something I understood & I've been trying to find the source. I've been through the whole of my house switching things on and off, one at a time and checking my amp each time to see if there is any change or reduction in the noise. I've even got to the point of having everything switched off in my house, even the central heating and nothing left on standby. The noise does appear to be worse at some times than others. The only conclusion I can come to is that it's something in a neighbours house, my house is an intermediate (joined both sides by my neighbours).

I did have a similar problem about 12 months ago and I managed to narrow that down to a low energy bulb! This time no luck so far..... If it does turn out not to be in my house, the only option I seem to be left with is to use some sort of device to try and kill or reduce the noise.

I haven't been able to try the Harmonix Hum Debugger yet as none of my local music stores stock them, so will have to order one online.

[Paragon]

Move your amp. Try in a different room of the house. Point the guitar in different directions.. it is basically an antennae for signals especially when you are dealing with single coil pickups as they will let all that pass through (hence position 2 and 4) I would bet it is something in your neighbors that is causing it (anything from a motor, TV/Monitor, possibly WiFi..)

I use Lace Sensor pickups so I cannot compare as these are single coils with a tone of shielding (a lot like the Fender Jaguar pickups with the external shield)

[Linty7]

Move your amp. Try in a different room of the house. Point the guitar in different directions.. it is basically an antennae for signals especially when you are dealing with single coil pickups as they will let all that pass through (hence position 2 and 4) I would bet it is something in your neighbors that is causing it (anything from a motor, TV/Monitor, possibly WiFi..)

I use Lace Sensor pickups so I cannot compare as these are single coils with a tone of shielding (a lot like the Fender Jaguar pickups with the external shield)

Thank you Paragon….

I have tried the amp in different rooms and it is marginally better but not cured. I really need to cure the problem for the room I’m in though, if possible.

At first I thought it may be my neighbours TV, which is most likely to be the other side of the wall to where I play but the noise/buzz has a slow oscillation to it, which sort of implies it may be an electric motor of sorts. Maybe a fridge or central heating pump!

It looks like I’m not going to be able to cure the source, so to start off, I’m going to check the shielding for one of my guitars. When I shielded them, I didn’t “star” ground them, that’s something I’ve learnt since. So I’ll see if doing that makes any difference......

[Voxman]

Sounds like your suffering from 'dirty electricity' in your home - DSP amps can be particularly sensitive to a dirty main supply. A line conditioner will sort that out, (eg a Furman) & once you have one, you'll be able to use it anywhere for consistent, clean electricity.

I personally use a gold seal Belkin Surgemaster adapter which gives EMI/RFI noise filtration 150KHz - 100MHz up to 75dB reduction, plus surge/spike protection up to 90,000 amps/6,000 volts. I find this is sufficient for my needs, but a Furman is even better.

[Linty7]

Sounds like your suffering from 'dirty electricity' in your home - DSP amps can be particularly sensitive to a dirty main supply. A line conditioner will sort that out, (eg a Furman) & once you have one, you'll be able to use it anywhere for consistent, clean electricity.

I personally use a gold seal Belkin Surgemaster adapter which gives EMI/RFI noise filtration 150KHz - 100MHz up to 75dB reduction, plus surge/spike protection up to 90,000 amps/6,000 volts. I find this is sufficient for my needs, but a Furman is even better.

Thank you Voxman.

I bought one this afternoon and tried it out tonight, no luck I'm afraid, still have the noise. I think it has had some effect though, not on the noise/interference but everything seems sharper and cleaner, maybe I'm imagining it but I don't think so. I've tried it with and without a number of times and there definately seems to be a difference in tone!

Back to the drawing board though as far as the noise/interference goes. At least I can rule one thing out

[Linty7]

Hi all,

I thought I would do a quick update on this problem.

I remembered that one of my guitars wasn't shielded. I checked the buzz/interference of this guitar with the others which where shielded, they were exactly the same. When pointing the headstock towards the amp buzz turn the guitar sideways to the amp no buzz.

I have now shielded the guitar which wasn't previously. Copper foil lined throughout the front cavity and pick guard totally covered. I've also done the rear cavity and cover. I've checked the continuity throughout with a meter and it's perfect. I was thorough with the other guitars but I have been even more fastidious with this one. Well, guess what, it's made no difference what so ever

So I'm waiting on a new super dooper double screened guitar lead at the moment. If that doesn't do the trick it will have to be the Electro Harmonix Hum Debugger next. Then a Faraday cage surrounding my dining area